Fence



H. WYCHE.

(No Model.)

FENCE.

Patezrggd Jan. 4, 1898.

@mmwm 6 m I Q% UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE HENRY wYcHE, OFHALLSBOROUGI-I, NORTH CAROLINA.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 596,688, dated January 4, 1898. Application filed October 2, 1897. ri l 653 .850, (No model.)

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WYCHE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Hallsborough, in the county of Columbus and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of wire fences; and it has for its object the provision of simple and efficient means for regulating the tension of the longitudinal wires in the fence and also in the provision of simple and efficient means for insuring the gateposts at all times being maintained in vertical positions, thus obviating the tendency of the posts to spread apart, and insuring at all times a perfect fit of the gate between the posts.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the same consists in the novel construction and in the peculiar combination, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and then specifically defined in the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form apart of this specification, and in which drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fence embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section upon line 2 2 of Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of a modification, which will hereinafter be more particularly referred to.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A represents one of the posts in the line 'of the fence. B represents a corner-post, and O O the gate-posts.

It will be observed that the posts are set deep in the ground and the posts A have bolted thereto, or, if preferred, mortised therein, parallel cross bars or strips D a d D, the

cent to the surface of the ground.

strips D at the lower ends of the posts being preferably shorter than the strips D, placed adjawhich latter are designed to be The posts B are provided at their lower ends with the cross-strips D" and at their upper ends with strips D which latter are similar to the strips D employed upon ordinary posts, excepting that in the corn er-posts the said strips D are placed upon the inner angle of the cornerpost and are notched at the longitudinal center of the strip, so as to engage the post. In order to provide for the straightening of the post when the same, from any cause, is inclined or thrown out of verticalposition, I employ wedges E, which latter are inserted within the notch in the strip which engages the posts.

The gate-posts C C are connected at their lower ends by a cross-timber E, which is preferably provided with tenons at its ends,which tenons engage mortises provided for their reception in the lower ends of the gate-posts. In order to provide a means whereby the tendency of the gate-posts to spread at their upperends is averted, I provide at a point a slight distance below the surface of the ground connection between the posts, the said connection consisting, preferably, of a loop of heavy wire G,which loop extends entirely around both posts, and I provide wedges H, which are inserted within the ends of the loop, and the flat face of the wedge is in contact with the outer face of the post, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

If for any reason it should be preferred, the wire loop G may be dispensed with and the posts connected, at a point slightly below the surface of the ground, by means of a cross-bar I, the ends of which bar are passed through the posts, one of its ends being provided with a bolt-head.) and its opposite end provided with a nut K. By this construction it is simply necessary to tighten the nut K in order to straighten the posts when inclined instead of accomplishing this object by driving the wedges H in the construction in which the loop is employed.

From the foregoing description my invention will be readily understood.

It will be seen that the cross-bars D, D, and D in connection with the cross-timber F, connecting the lower ends of the gate-posts and the adjustable connection between the gate-posts at a point adjacent to the surface of the ground, will serve to hold the posts at all times in position and that the tendency of the gate-posts to spread apart-can be at once prevented by drawing the posts together, either by the wedges H, which are employed in connection with the wire loop G, or by the tightening of the nut K, in the construction in which a bolt or rod I is employed for connecting the posts.

It will be observed that the cross strips or timbers D are parallel with the strip or timber D, secured to the lower end of the post, and it will also be noted that the upper strip or timber D is secured to the side of the post opposite to that upon which the timber D is attached. This construction is important, as

the post is held much more firmly than it would be were the two strips or timbers secured to the same side of the post. p

In the construction of the gate I preferably place the cross-piece K a considerable distance below the upper wire of the gate, as when thus placed it serves to prevent cattle from jumping over the gate and also prevents fowls from perching upon the gate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

A corner-post for wire fences,the same comprising a post having at its lower end, a crosstimber, and at a point adjacent to the surface of the ground, a second cross-timber D the said timber being notched at its longitudinal center, and applied to the inner corner of the post, in combination with wedges E inserted between the post, and timber substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY \VYCHE.

Witnesses:

ROBERT D. SESSIONS, S. FRANK LEwIs. 

